The Brighton manager, Gus Poyet, branded his Leeds counterpart Neil Warnock a
“hypocrite” after he defended striker Luke Varney from accusations of
diving.

Poyet called on Warnock to either fine or ban his player after claiming he cheated to win a penalty in this controversial draw.

Varney went to ground as defender Bruno Saltor pushed past him late in the first half, with El-Hadji Diouf converting from 12 yards to cancel out Craig Mackail-Smith’s early spot kick.

Warnock said the forward had done nothing wrong but Poyet responded: “If he were my player he dived, but because he’s his player he was pushed. He’s a funny one. We call it hypocrisy. So he’s in the list of hypocrites now Neil, unfortunately, for saying that.”

Poyet added: “I hope Mr Warnock deals with the player internally in a hard way — fine him or ban him.”

Further controversy followed in the second half. After Mackail-Smith restored Brighton’s lead, Leeds midfielder Michael Brown was lucky to avoid a second yellow when he cynically tugged down Will Buckley. Brown then played a pivotal role in Leeds’ second equaliser , with his shot deflecting off team-mate Luciano Becchio.